The department shall have the power to grant to any person or corporation the right, privilege, and authority to perpetually back and hold water upon or over any state lands, and overflow such lands and inundate the same, whenever the department shall deem it necessary for the purpose of erecting, constructing, maintaining, or operating any water power plant, reservoir, or works for impounding water for power purposes, irrigation, mining, or other public use, but no such rights shall be granted until the value of the lands to be overflowed and any damages to adjoining lands of the state, appraised as in the case of an application to purchase such lands, shall have been paid by the person or corporation seeking the grant, and if the construction or erection of any such water power plant, reservoir, or works for impounding water for the purposes heretofore specified, shall not be commenced and diligently prosecuted and completed within such time as the department may prescribe at the time of the grant, the same may be forfeited by the department by serving written notice of such forfeiture upon the person or corporation to whom the grant was made, but the department, for good cause shown to its satisfaction, may extend the time within which such work shall be completed.

Intent—2003 c 334: See note following RCW 79.02.010.

Savings—Captions—Severability—Effective dates—1982 1st ex.s. c 21: See RCW 79.135.900 through 79.135.904.

Operating agencies: Chapter 43.52 RCW.